Bumper Monitor Number 2

In this edition: Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development [DIRD] Regulatory Policy Review Update on Federal Court Matters Meeting between Branch Executive and ARFF Senior Management National Consultative Council Meeting 21st April Divisional Consultative Council Meeting 21st April FOI Requests Award Modernisation – Modern Enterprise Award for Airservices Termination of Perth Member Consultation and the …

Aviation Branch Response to ARFFS Regulatory Policy Review Public Consultation Paper

The DIRD released a public consultation paper in December 2015 titled, Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Service Regulatory Policy Review. Your Union has submitted a response to the paper. Our response is in two parts- Aviation Branch Submission; and An independent report commissioned by the National Office of our Union titled, “Prioritising safety in the allocation …

Newsletter 23rd December 2015

PPC Procurement Project Aviation Branch and AS/ARFF met in Canberra on Monday 14th December for further discussions on this project. Central to the discussions was the consultation process and your Union’s involvement …………………. ARFFS Regulatory Policy Review On Monday this week [21st December] your Union received the following email advice from the Department of Infrastructure …

LABOR NATIONAL POLICY PLATFORM

The UFUA National Office was able to secure the insertions (outlined below) into the ALP Policy Platform at the ALP National Conference in July 2015. The National Office has also had discussions with the Leader of the Opposition who is understanding and supportive of the issues surrounding the preservation age for firefighters. This is a significant achievement …

Newsletter 10th December 2015

AIRSERVICES AND UFU REPRESENTATIVES TO MEET IN CANBERRA FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION ON NEW PPE UFU and AS/ARFF representatives will meeting in Canberra on Monday 14th for further consultation and discussion on the procurement of new PPE. AS/ARFF initially indicated that they might not agree to your Union’s “requested” list of attendees but finally accepted that …

Your Union’s Response To ARFF’s Functional Requirement Specification For New PPE

PPE Requirements – DRAFT – UFUA Comments – To access this document with full functionality firstly right click on the link then click on “Save Link As”. Save the document as an “Adobe Acrobat Document” to a location on your computer. Open document from your computer with “Adobe Acrobat XI”. If you don’t have Abobe Acrobat XI …

PPC TESTING

ARFF are undertaking a project for the procurement of new PPC [Personal Protective Clothing]. Your Union is concerned with a number of the aspects of the ARFF functional requirements specification document which is the basis on which potential tenderers will bid for the contract of supply to ARFF. Your Union submitted a “fulsome” [CFO’s word] …

Federal Court Matters Update

Your Union’s legal representatives have filed draft directions orders with the Federal Circuit as a first step in the formal arbitration of your Union’s applications relating to rest relief, higher duties and hours and overtime payments while attending courses and workshops …………………………………  

October 27 Newsletter

In this issue: Federal Circuit Court Issues National Archives of Australia Issues Records Retention Notice ATCs begin EA negotiations Join the campaign to save your penalty rates Union website

CASA announces PIR MOS Part 139H

CASA has announced a PIR of the MOS Part 139H and as a key stakeholder in the provision of ARFF services at airports in Australia your Union has written to Mark Cunningham, the project leader, advising of our wish to participate and be involved in the project.  

Update on Federal Circuit Court Matters

Your Branch President and Branch Secretary, together with your Union’s legal counsel met with Airservices in Canberra on Wednesday 14th October 2015. The purpose of the meeting was for Airservices to talk through their interpretations of the various scenarios for payment of the “no 8 hour break” payment ……………….

Recruit Underpayments and Federal Court Applications

RECRUIT UNDERPAYMENTS RC73 ONWARDS Be assured that this issue has not stalled. Your Union and Airservices are jointly working to have the underpayments paid to affected members as quickly as possible ……. FEDERAL COURT APPLICATIONS As you are aware, your Union has filed dispute applications in the Federal Circuit Court. These applications relate to the …

Financial Reports for 2014-2015 Now Available

Your Union’s financial reports for the 2014-2015 year are now available on our website. Go to “Your Union” and click on “Financials”. As this a ‘members only’ area on our website, if this is the first time you are accessing the financial statements you will be prompted to set up your own account before being …

The Facts Behind The Myths

Despite the myth perpetrated in “Mythbusters” in the August 21 edition of The Monitor, your Union has put considerable effort into resolving these issues with ASA/ARFF without having to seek the assistance of an outside tribunal. Considerable correspondence has been exchanged between the parties and the matters have been raised at consultative council meetings and …

Branch Newsletter June 3 2015: Bad Comcare Legislation

The following is a summary of the federal government’s proposed changes to the Comcare legislation. If this legislation is passed by the parliament it will severely impact on your rights and entitlements if you are injured at work. The summary is taken from the ACTU briefing to members of parliament. Your Union has started a …

Work Performance Framework Review

On the 18th May 2015 your Union received a letter from Airservices inviting our participation on the Internal Reference Group formed for the review of the Work Performance Framework. The Branch Secretary was the nominated representative. Your Union mistakenly believed this signaled the commencement of the review. The reality was something entirely different……….

Branch Newsletter

The Aviation Branch triennial elections conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission [AEC] concluded on 8th of May. Not all vacant positions were filled so it is necessary to

NEWSLETTER – ELECTION NOTICE

As all vacant offices were not filled in the recently concluded elections it has been necessary to conduct further elections. The Fair Work Commission has approved the Union’s application for the conduct of the election and requested the Australian Election to conduct the election for the relevant vacancies.   Find out more here.

Summary of DCC Meeting 12th March 2015

The Divisional Consultative Committee established under the Airservices [ARFF] Enterprise Agreement 2013-2017 met on 12th March. Your Union is represented at these meetings by members of the Branch Executive and our WHS Coordinator. UFU Agenda items Exposure Management Working Group. Clause 7.7.13 in EA and medical testing Use of private vehicles to transport PPE from …

Michael Farrell joins Trustee Board

Michael Farrell joins Trustee Board. From 1 March 2015, Michael Farrell will join us as a member nominated Director. The AvSuper Trustee Board consists of eight Directors, equally representing AvSuper members and employers. With 31 years’ experience as an ARFF fire fighter, Michael will ably assist the Fund to serve our fire fighting members’ needs. Michael …

FMS – Your Union’s Position Remains Unchanged.

BCOM maintains its non-participation stance on FMS. As we said in our last article: Unfortunately Airservices/ARFF have still not properly engaged in consultation with your Union on FMS [Functional Movement Screening] addressing legitimate concerns about privacy of information/data that will be gathered on you as part of the process. Unfortunately our proposal for FMS to …

Functional Movement Screening

Unfortunately Airservices/ARFF have still not properly engaged in consultation with your Union on FMS [Functional Movement Screening] addressing legitimate concerns about privacy of information/data that will be gathered on you as part of the process. Unfortunately our proposal for FMS to be introduced on a negotiated agreed basis has also been ignored. Accordingly, your Branch …